Ash tray



Patented July 16, 1946 UNITEDg STATES PATENT Y' OFFIcE- Asn TRAY vcharles F. Hines, Clarksburg, W. va'. Application May 25, 1942;.fSeria'l'No. 444,412'.

2 Claims. l

The present invention relates to improvements in ash trays for cigars, cigarettes and the like, and aims generally to improve existing trays of that type.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of an improved tray for holding a burning cigarette, which will prevent the complete burning of the cigarette while resting on the tray.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tray having a novel type of cigarette` retaining groove which will cause a burning cigarette to :be extinguished after a relatively short period, while remaining unsweata'ble.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, reference being had to the drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan View of a preferred form of tray according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form thereof;

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the rest of the modified form of tray as taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, the tray advantageously comprises a body l provided with a bowl II and a, flat top surface I2 extending substantially outwardly beyond the bowl so as to provide for a'plurality of rests I3, herein illustrated as eight, of substantial length, the length of the rests being preferably more than half the length of a standard sized cigarette. The perimeter of the surface I2 may be pointed as shown in Fig. 1, in which case the rests are in the form of radial extensions from the body I0 and bowl II. Alternatively, the perimeter of the top I2 may be substantially circular and coextensive with the body, in which case the rests comprise portions of the body.

Each of the rests is formed with a cigarette.

receiving groove of novel construction, adapted to receive and substantially embrace a burning cigarette.

The cigarette-receiving groove I is preferably rectangular in cross section extending from the bowl II to a point I6 spaced from the outer perimeter of the surface I2, or the ends of the rests I3, and preferably these grooves taper downwardly greater than the diameter of the cigarette, and

the bottom thereof-fis formed with a supplementary groove I1, providing sharp corner edges I8 for supporting the cigarette by edge contact throughout substantially the length of the groove. The outer ends of the rests I3 are formedV with conical grooves I9 tapering towards the ends of the rests 'and inclined downwardly toward the groove I5, providing at thev pointr I6 a semi-circular seat for the cigarette adjacent the plane of the edge I 8. I

A lighted cigarette placed on the tray with th lighted end in the bowl I I is maintained in downwardly inclined position, and is supported longitudinally by edge contact with the sharp edges I8. If the cigarette is a fully lighted one or is of a length exceeding the length of the groove I5, the outer end portion may be supported arcuately by the semi-circular edge of the groove I9 at the point I6. Inasmuch as the groove I5 is wider than the cigarette and thev bottom is grooved as at I'I, the sides of the groove are out of contact with the cigarette which prevents sweating the even burning of the cigarette until the ash n extends to a point within the groove I5, when the cigarette will be extinguished, thus eliminating much of the offensive, and irritating odor of a burning cigarette. The fact that the cigarette is positioned between the closely adjacent comparatively high walls forming the sides of the groove I5 apparently has considerable effect in producing this result. I have found from experience with the grooves of the size and proportion shown in the drawing that the cigarette will become extinguished in about two and one-half minutes. By widening the grooves I5 the cigarette will burn longer. 'Usually the cigarette burns from a sixteenth to an eighth of an inch before being extinguished.

The improved tray of my invention may be made of glass, pottery, metal or other material suitable for the purpose.

In the specification and claims I have referred to the grooves as being of a size for retaining cigarettes but it will be understood that some or all ofthe grooves may be of a size to receive stogies, cigars and the like without departing` from the invention. 'Obviously my invention is not limited to the details of construction as shown and described, but includes equivalents as well.

I claim: 1. An ash tray comprising a body formed with l a bowl and a plurality of cigarette rests extendl ing therefrom, said rests being oi substantial length and formed with ra cigarette receiving groove in the upper face thereof, said groove being l of substantially rectangular cross sectionV for the major portion of the length thereof, a supple@V mentary groove of narrower width formed in the l bottom of the receiving groove and providingtherewith relatively sharp edged supporting'v 2. An ash tray comprising a body formed with Y a bowl and a plurality ofecigarette rests extending means for the cigarette, the outer ends of'said i' rests being formed With an arcuate groovehaving an upper edge substantially triangular in form and the'upper edge of said arcuate fgroblvebeingzv If in a plane aboveV the bottom of the narrower Width.

gTOOVe of Awith arcuate grooves communicating with said "rectangular grooves and having an upper edge sibstantially triangular in form and pointed to- Wards the endsof the rest, the upper edge of said 'arcuate groove 'communicating with the rectangulargroove"aboverthe bottom of the groove of narrower widthd Y CHARLES F. VHINEs.V 

